Liquid cooling apparatus for internal combustion engines



June 7, 1932. G. H. LECARPENTIER I 1,361,304

LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed April 20, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6607 9 L f3? M,

June 7, 1932.

GH.LECARPENER LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed April 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Georgeia-L PC6079 e zi'i'er I19 I, g w w. 7'

an AD Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES GEORGE E. LECARPENTIER, or oHIoAc'o, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY manor AND MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, T ALBERT MCCALEB, 0F EVANSTON, ILLINOIS LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS roe INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Application filed April 20,

This invention relates to liquid cooling appara-tus for internal combustion engines, and particularly to means for supplying antifreeze material thereto when climatic con- ;;1 ditions require it. The invention will readily be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevational view of a stationary internal combustion engine embodyin my invention; j V

ig. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the anti-freeze material container and associated in mechanism, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is an endelevational view thereof; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the float chamber taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the no line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail view of-the valve controlled by the float.

Referring to the drawings,'the reference numeral 10 designates an internal combustion engine, which may be regarded as a sta tionary engine located in the open, orv in an unheated or insuficiently heated place so that it is necessary, in cold weather, to add anti-freeze material, such as alcohol, to the "36 water in the engine circulating system. The

engine 10 is shown carried by a support 11 and includes a circulating system comprising a radiator 12, pump 13, a conduitl l leading from the engine water jackets to the -35 radiator, a conduit 15 leading from the radiator to the pump 13, anda conduit 16 leading from the pump 13 to the engine water jackets. V

At a suitable elevated position to ensure 40' gravity flow of anti-freeze to the circulat ing liquid, for example at the top of asupport 17 mounted on the engine support 11, I locate an anti-freeze tank 18 and adjacent thereto a float chamber 19. The anti-freeze 4 tank 18 may suitably consist of a casing open flange around its upper edge. These flanges The tank 18 is provided with .a filling openmg 21 normally closed by a vented closure 22, and with a liquid level sight glass 23 which enables the amount of liquid remaining in the tank to be seen at .-a glance. The septum is provided near'one end with a valve body 24 through which the tank 18 maycommunicate with the fioat'chamber 19.

As will readily be understood from Fig. .6,

a valye25 is normally held closed by ia spring 26 which forces the valve upwardly. The valve :25 carries a depending rod 27 which is provided with an elongated loop 28.

A float 29, preferably of tapering form is mounted Within the fioatchamber 19. The float carries at one-sideaspindle-3O which is mounted horizontally in the chamber 19 in suitable bearings. One end of the spindle projects through a gland 31 in the side of the float chamber 19. The projecting endof the spindle rigidly carries a bimetallic strip 32 which extends in a, generally horizontal direction along the outside of the chamber 19, with the metal of greater expansibility, for example brass, on the underside, and the metal of lesser expansibility .on the upper side. The float 29 carries a loop 33 which passes freely through the loop 28. As will readily be understood from Fig. 2, the loo-p 33 has .a considerable degree of freedom in the loop. 28,-while the float moves. It will readily be seen that when the float is forced upwardly with suflicient force to open the valve 25., alcohol or other anti-freeze material passes downwardly {through the valve body 24%. I

The bimetallic strip 32 is maintained in generally horizontal position by a lug 34 which projects outwardly from a plate 35, whichis mounted upon the side ofthe-chamber 19. The plate 35 is provided with ,a longitudinal slot 36, through'which extend screws which hold the plate in desired 13.0311 tion of adjustment. The strip 32 and associated .parts may be protected from .dirtand the elements by a housing 37 which maybe removably mounted on the side of the chamber 19. It will readily be understood that the position of the float with respect to the valve may be adjusted by changing the position of the plate 35. Thus movement of the plate towards the valve causes the float to sink somewhat, the temperature and composition of the liquid remaining unchanged.

A tube 38 extends from the conduit 16 to the float chamber 19, and a tube 39 leads the chamber 19, preferably near the top thereof, to the conduit 141:. The tube 39 may be provided with a bend to ensure that the chamber is maintained full of liquid. A valve 41 may be provided in the tube 38 so that the flow therethrough may be limited to the desired extent so as to avoid the possibility of an excessive pressure in the "chamber 19, which might prevent the flow of alcohol or other anti-freeze material through the valve 24. In the modification shown in'the drawings, I have shown the tubes 38 and 39 connected to one end of the chamber 19, but I may connect them to the chamber at other positions, for example at opposite ends.

When the engine is operated, cooling fluid from the radiator 12 flows through the tube 38, float chamber 19, and tube 39 into the conduit 14. The float 29 is subjected to an upward force due to the buoyancy of the cooling fluid, which varies in accordance with the alcohol content. This force is counter-balanced by the engagement of the strip 32 with the lug 34. The strip 32 is relatively resilient so that variation of buoyancy will result in variation of position of the float, other conditions being unchanged. The strip 32 responds to atmospheric temperature so that decrease of temperature causes it to bow upwardly as viewed in Fig. 5 and increase of temperature causes it to bow downwardly. Movement of the strip 32, which is rigidly fastened to the spindle 30, partially controls rotation of such spindle, rotation of the said spindle also being caused and controlled by up and down movements of the float 29.

IV hen the alcohol content of the fluid is insufficient for the prevailing temperature, the float will attain an elevated position owing to the conjoint action of high buoyancy and the upward bowing of the strip 32. The loop 33 is thereby caused to engage the loop 28 and open the valve 25. Alcohol gradually flows from the tank 18 into the chamber 19 from which it is carried by the stream flowing through the tubes 38 and 39 into the main circulation system. I/Vhen the alcohol supply in the circulating system hasbeen replenished to the extent necessary to avoid freezing, the buoyancy of'the float 29 has accordingly diminished and the valve 25 is closed.

hen an anti-freeze material is employed whose aqueous solutions are heavier than 5 water, for example, glycerine, glycol, etc.,

the valve 25 must be arranged to open upwardly, the float 29 in that case sinking into a low position when the cooling fluid is de ficient in anti-freeze material. It will of course be understood that various factors such as weight of the float, etc., differ for each anti-freeze material which may be employed.

Although the invention has been described in connection with the specific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except insofar as set forth in the accompanying claims. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to procure by Letters Patent is:

1. An internal combustion engine, com prising cooling liquid circulatory apparatus, a container for anti-freeze material, means responsive to variation of specific gravity of the cooling fluid, means responsive to temperature, and means actuated conjointly by the means responsive to specific gravity, and the means responsive to temperature to control the supply of anti-freeze to the circulating cooling fluid. v

2. An internal'combustion engine COlIlprising a cooling liquid system, a containerfor anti-freeze material, a valve controlling the supply of anti-freeze material from the container to said system, and hydrometric means and thermostatic means adapted conjointly to operate said valve to avoid danger of freezing.

3. An internal combustion engine com rising a cooling liquid system, a container or anti freeze material, a valve controlling the supply of anti-freeze material from the container to said system, and means responsive to the specific gravity of the cooling liquid adapted to control said valve.

4. An internal combustion engine comprising cooling liquid circulatory apparatus, a container for anti-freeze material, a float responsive to variation of specific gravity of the cooling fluid, a bimetallic strip resiliently opposing movement of the float in one direction, and means actuated by'the movement of the float to control the supply of anti-freeze to the circulating fluid.

5. An internal combustion engine comprising a cooling liquid system, a container for anti-freeze material, a valve controlling the supply of anti-freeze material from the container to said system, a float immersed in the cooling liquid, a bimetallic strip resiliently opposing the buoyancy of the float, and means operatively connecting the float to the valve.

6. In an internal combustion engine, a container for anti-freeze material, a chamber through which cooling fluid may be circulated, a float mounted in said chamber, a

bimetallic strip exposed to atmospheric temperature opposing movement of said float, and a valve adapted to be operated by the float to replenish the anti-freeze material content of the cooling fluid. V

7. In combination with a liquid circulating system, a container for anti-freeze material, a device movable in response to the temperature of the liquid in said system, a device movable in response to the specific gravity of the liquid in said system, and means responsive to the conjoint action of the aforesaid movable devices for controlling the flow of anti-freeze material from said container into said circulating system.

8. In combination with a liquid circulating system, a container for anti-freeze material, a buoyant member immersed in the liquid of said circulating system and movable in response to variations in the specific gravity of said liquid, a thermostat responsive to the temperature of said liquid and adapted resiliently to oppose movement of the buoyant member in one direction, and means actuated by the movement of the buoyant member to control the flow of anti-freeze material from said container to the circulating system.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, a

pair of chambers disposed one above the other, the upper chamber being adapted to receive a quantity of anti-freeze material, the lower chamber being adapted to be included in a liquid circulatin system, a buoyant member in the lower 0 amber, a thermostat and a valve in said passage movable in response to the conjoint influence of said hydrometric means and said thermostatic means.

12. In combination with a liquid circulating system of an internal combustion engine or the like, a source of anti-freeze material supply, a passage through which said antifreeze material is admitted to said circulat ing system, hydrometric means responsive to the specific gravity of the liquid in said circulating system, thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of the liquid in said system, and a valve controlling said passage, said valve being responsive to the conjoint influence of said hydrometric means and said thermostatic means. I

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th day of April, 1931.

GEORGE H. LECARPENTIEB.

responsive to the temperature of the liquid in the lower chamber, a passage through which anti-freeze material may flow by gravity from the upper chamber into the lower chamber, and a valve controlling said passage, said valve being responsive to the conjoint action of the buoyant member and ther mostat.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, a container for anti-freeze material, a mixing chamber, means for circulating a liquid through said mixing chamber, a buoyant member in the mixing chamber movable in accordance with the specific gravity of the liquid therein, a thermostat responsive to the temperature of the liquid circulated through said mixing chamber, a passage through which anti-freeze material may flow from said container to said mixing chamber, and a valve controlling said passage, said Valve being responsive to the conjoint influence of said buoyant member and thermostat.

11. In combination two containers, one containing an aqueous solution of anti-freeze material and the other containing a supply of anti-freeze material, hydrometric means movable in response to the specific gravity of the said aqueous solution, a passage between the two chambers through which anti-freeze material may flow into said aqueous solution, 

